Food events in Toronto this week are throwing it down with a gin bash and a bombolone battle. A new beer pong festival is here to let you relive your college days and the Gourmet Food and Wine Expo is back. Mark your calendars because Winterlicious and a big tea festival are coming up as well.

The Toronto Christmas Market has returned to the Distillery District for another year, coinciding perfectly with the first major snowfall of the season. It was cold and wet, but that didn't stop the crowds from enjoying the festive stalls and the lighting ceremony of the 50-foot tree. 

Check out the photo gallery of this year's Toronto Christmas Market.

See snow? Drive slow, say Ontario Provincial Police.

It's an instruction so simple that the entire things fits into a hashtag, and yet, every time Toronto gets its first real snowfall of the year, the roads descend into total melee.

OPP officers responded to more than 340 collisions in Southern Ontario last night within just four hours following the region's first major winter weather event of 2018.

Driver extricated from vehicle at Cockshutt Rd and Concession 10 by #EmergencyServices. Female suffers minor injuries after vehicle rolls over into ditch. Please #SlowDown and drive to the weather conditions. #NorfolkOPP continue to investigate. #ONstorm ^es pic.twitter.com/iYYbVywdrr

— OPP West (@OPP_WR) November 15, 2018

In Toronto alone, more than 200 accidents were reported between Thursday night and Friday morning as both snow and rain made road conditions particularly slippery.

Police have been warning drivers to slow down and leave extra space using every platform available to them since Thursday evening, but many residents either missed the memo or ignored it entirely.

The #SeeSnowGoSlow warning came too late for this driver. ❄️

Please use extra caution when entering or exiting the highway pic.twitter.com/as9X8bLFgm

— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) November 16, 2018

"Breaking news.... The white stuff on the ground will require to be cleared off your vehicle, will cause drivers to leave more time and will slow you down," wrote TPS traffic services early Friday morning.

"You can overcome this substance by slowing down and leaving more space between you and the vehicle in front." 

Me-ow!

If you are involved in a minor collision in Toronto, move off the road and head to one of our @CRC_TPS (collision reporting centres) to file a report ^bm #SlowDown@CityNews@BTtoronto@TPSTrafficDC@TPScott_baptist@ONtransport@680NEWSpic.twitter.com/ihuKovFuGU

— TPS Traffic Services (@TrafficServices) November 16, 2018

Meanwhile, regular ol' citizens have started their annual chorus of "NOBODY KNOWS HOW TO DRIVE IN TORONTO!" on Twitter.

I swear nobody in Toronto knows how to drive in snow, you live in Canada!!! The Montrealer road rage in me always comes out to play this time of year 🙇🏼‍♀️

— Chels (@chelstherouxx) November 16, 2018

Toronto got 9 cm of snow last night, on average, according to Environment Canada, which is a lot compared to what we've seen over the past few years at this time.

Come on #toronto it’s just snow. You literally drive in this 7 months ago 🤷🏽‍♂️

— Official Bonz (@TheOfficialBonz) November 16, 2018

On the same token, it's a lot less than what we've had to deal with in Decembers, Januaries, Februaries, Marches and even Aprils in the past.

Why do so many simply forget how to drive in snow every year we have our first significant snowfall. Driving from Barrie to Toronto last night, I saw all manner of the dangerous and ridiculous.

— Fidgell (@IamFidgell) November 16, 2018

The rate of collisions should soon slow down, as people put on their snow tires and remember that winter driving is tricky.

#SnowDay for a lot of kids. Lots of buses cancelled across eastern Ontario. Numerous collisions and vehicles in ditches. Even this plow ended up in the ditch along #Hwy401 near Mallorytown. If you do have to go, remember... #SeeSnowGoSlow ^bd pic.twitter.com/aN202qMQhy

— OPP East (@OPP_ER) November 16, 2018

The snow, however, will keep on coming . Weather Network meteorologists forecast scattered flurries for Toronto on Saturday. We could also see some snow on Monday, but the rest of next week looks relatively clear.

Whatever the sky decides to drop, winter has arrived – so drive safely, ya dingus.

The best cabbage Rolls in Toronto are a taste of the old country. This nostalgic comfort food, which typically smothers pork and rice wrapped in cabbage leaves in a tomato sauce, is the perfect start to a European feast.

Here are the best cabbage rolls in Toronto.

Major changes are afoot at Ontario Place courtesy of the Ford government, and many Torontonians are not happy about it. 

The PC government released its fiscal roadmap yesterday in the face of what is being reported as a $14.5-billion deficit, and it appears the city will be feeling its effects in more ways than one. 

can all of the people who love ontario place get together and link arms around the cinesphere and stop this

— 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬 (@RahRahRaina) November 16, 2018

Among the several controversial measures proposed in the economic strategy, including selling liquor until 11 p.m., cutting taxes on the rich, and scrapping rent control, Ford will also be reshaping the face of Toronto's massive waterfront park completely.

A new piece of legislation called Bill 57, which was tabled alongside the economic outlook, plans to dissolve the Ontario Place Corporation (OPC) and transfer all its assets to the Crown for the use of the Province. 

So... what happens to the $30M Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail that JUST opened? Back to a parking lot for drunk-driving out-of-towners looking to gamble, I assume? #ontarioplace#onpoli#topoli#aplacetogrow

— Glyn Bowerman (@glynbowerman) November 16, 2018

The government is also repealing the Ontario Place Corporation Act, saying it wants to finally transform the former theme park into a 
"world-class, year-round" attraction.

So not into this.

My tour company, @gotourscanada, opened at Ontario Place in July 2018 and had expansion plans next year. Now I'll likely have to lay off staff instead of increasing our roster in 2019.#ontarioplace

— Aaron Binder (@wordbirdbinder) November 16, 2018

The citizenry are now bracing themselves for what they suspect will be an eventual selling out of Ontario Place to private companies. 

I can only assume a ferris wheel and casino are headed for Ontario Place.

— Jigger Pine (@jigger_pine) November 15, 2018

The dreaded idea of Ford bringing his casino aspirations to the waterfront is now a thing, according to Finance Minister Victor Fedeli, who told Metro Morning today that "everything's possible". 

The plans fly in the face of previous governments' attempts to revitalize the aging 51-acre park into a parkland for the public. 

Goodbye #OntarioPlace for the people, hello condos for the wealthy looking for the ultimate view! https://t.co/6vzikB4W6X

— Robert Fisher (@politicsfisher) November 16, 2018

While changes have been years in the making, slow advances have been made recently, including the opening of the Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail last year. 

Toronto Police are looking for a man suspected of breaking into as many as 13 businesses in the downtown core to steal Apple products.

The burglar is wanted in connection with a series of crimes that have taken place over the past three years, all of them Break and Enters with access gained through use of a crow bar (or something similar) to force doors open.

Somehow he has yet to be caught, so, in an effort to identify him, police released a video on Friday featuring security footage from some his many heists.

The suspect is said to be a big, agile, well-dressed guy—around 6'0"-6'2" with a heavy build at 220-240 lbs. Police say that, while he blends in with regular crowds through how he dresses, he "stands out due to his size."

His specific taste in things to steal also stands out: iPads, MacBooks, Mac Pros—he doesn't discriminate (except against anything that isn't made by Apple).

The thief is usually active between May and October, according to police, and tends to target businesses in older buildings.

Recognize him? Police ask that yoy contact them at 416-808-5200, or reach out to Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Today is a day for snuggling bed and watching Netflix, but should you decide to head out, events in Toronto today include a new beer pong festival and a holiday light ceremony in Bloor-Yorkville Village. The famed Terre Bleu Lavender Farm is here for a pop-up and the Regent Park Film Festival wraps up for another year.

The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo is coming back to Toronto for its 24th year. This annual event is your chance to take a food and drink journey around the globe. Want to go? We've teamed up with OLG's newest INSTANT game, THE BIGGER SPIN, to give away 10 ELITE passes valid for any day of the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo.

Get all the contest details here.

With the ridiculous amount of November snow we saw this week, it's fair to wonder if the rest of winter will be as intense for Toronto. 

Though winter forecasts are just that—forecasts—the general consensus is that this year's snowy season is going to be a pretty standard one.

What that means is the average snowy periods from December to March, with a few cold snaps here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary.

That being said, it's still going to be frosty one (we are the earth's fifth coldest country after all). 

A chart from this year's Old Farmer's Almanac report shows temperatures hovering at average levels for the majority of winter, with a slight increase in precipitation. Photo via Old Farmer's Almanac.  

If we're going by the Old Farmer's Almanac long range weather forecast released a couple months ago, the coldest periods will run from mid-December to early February. 

There'll be more rain and snowfall than average, with precipitation lasting all the way until mid-March. 

But it's nothing compared to the storms that Accuweather has reported will hit Atlantic Canada this winter, or the Arctic air that could potentially move east toward Quebec.

Apparently Toronto and the rest of the Great Lakes will be spared much of that frigid air, only seeing some extreme bouts of cold in the second half of winter as per usual. 

Both AG Canada and Accuweather have also reported on the effects of an emerging El Nino, which is usually associated with warmer and wetter weather winters and springs in this part of Canada.

Still, you won’t see anything out of the ordinary, other than the fact April and May are expected to be cooler than normal, with more rain than average. 

As long as it’s not the face-freezing, frigid winter storms of years past, we should be able to survive this one. 

The best indoor swimming pools in Toronto are an ideal way to get your laps in without being at the mercy of Mother Nature. With plenty of free or pay-as-you-go aquatic centres around the city and a number of membership-only options, there’s no shortage of opportunities to wade in the waters year-round.

Here are the best indoor swimming pools in Toronto.

Public

Regent Park Aquatic Centre

It’s called the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre now, but either way, this facility in Regent Park has you covered for all your swimming needs, with a 25-meter lap pool, spa pool, tarzan rope and water slide.

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

The motherlode of all public pools, this competitive facility by U of T’s Scarborough campus has different programs happening in both its Training Pool and Competitive Pool. They also have a Dive Pool, if you’re skilled like that.

Etobicoke Olympium

Another training venue for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, this aquatic centre on Rathburn Rd. has an Olympic-sized 50-metre pool, in case you want to practice your synchronized swimming routine. If not, there’s a smaller leisure pool.

York Recreation Centre

This recreation centre in Mount Dennis now comes equipped with a six-lane 25-metre pool, with a great shallow area and splash features for the little ones. There’s tons of aquatic programs offered here too, including Bronze Cross and Emergency First training.

Douglas Snow Aquatic Centre

The Olympic-size pool by Mel Lastman Square boasts two epic water slides (one is a towering, swirling affair that drops you into the shallow end), leisure swims, and free aquafit classes all week.

Jimmie Simpson

Sitting in this longtime Leslieville community centre is an indoor pool that hosts lessons, synchronized swims, certification programs and other activities. If you’ve got little tykes, they also have another pool just for kids.

Trinity Community Recreation Centre

This airy, beautiful facility on Crawford St. has a pool with three lanes running 25 yards-long. There’s also different swimming programs for swimmers of all ages.  

North Toronto Memorial Community Centre

Sitting right on the edge of Eglinton Park, this swimming pool has been an aquatic mainstay to the Eglinton area. It’s undergoing some $9 million worth of renovations, but when it reopens this March it’ll be even better than it was before.

St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre

Take a dip in this pool located right on the Esplanade. It shares a space with the Market Lane Public School and St. Lawrence Community Daycare, making it the perfect swimming spot for community members of all ages.

Joseph Piccininni Community Centre

The indoor pool here offers lane leisure, fitness sessions and instructional swim. Head to this facility for their shallow aquafit lessons or leisure swims just for women.

Membership

University of Toronto Athletic Centre

U of T's gym boasts two different types of indoor pools accessible to the public: the 50-metre Varsity pool and the 25-metre Benson pool. You can access either with a community membership that's $97 per month, or $17.70 a day.

Cooper Koo YMCA

This Cherry Street branch of the YMCA has a 25-metre lap and recreation pool that you can use with a membership that ranges between $45 and $57. 

Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre

Head to the Freddie Shore Aquatic Centre in this facility right across from Spadina station and you'll be treated to a rare, fully-accessible saltwater pool in the heart of downtown. Monthly memberships range from $67 to $82, with additional costs for initiation.  

Hart House Fitness Centre

This 25-yard pool is nothing short of stunning, with a beautiful Art Deco skylight that lights up the entire stretch of water. Community memberships are $80 per month for non-U of T grads, with the option to bring one guest to this Queen's Park pool for $16 a pass.

Glendon Athletic Club

York University's GAC has a full-size indoor swimming pool divided into three lanes. There's open swim period for members of all ages, you just to have pay for a membership, which comes up to around $75 a month for community members.

The Toronto of the 1970s was, in the words of Anthony Astrachan, "a city that works."

Unlike a number of major urban areas in the U.S., Toronto's downtown core was not rendered a ghost town by suburban emigration, and with the rise of the Parti Quebecois in Quebec, the city experienced such an influx of English-speaking Montrealers and Montreal-based companies that it became the fastest growing in North America. 

And just as Toronto experienced a building boom—most notably in the rise of concrete apartment structures, downtown office towers, and the construction of the CN Tower—urban planners held little regard for historic structures, knocking down such iconic buildings as the Temple Building, the original Toronto Star Building, the Mercer Reformatory and many more.

Here's how Toronto looked in the 1970s.

Gone but not forgotten, 1970s record shops at Yonge and Gould. Photo by cthompsonx.

Maple Leaf Gardens with the Odeon Theatre in the background, 1970. Photo by cgfletcher.

Pre-CN Tower skyline and Pier 6. Photo by mcwidi_2.

Here it comes! The CN Tower at the beginning of construction. Photo by Photoscream.

Flatiron building and skyline. Photo by Photoscream.

Joy Oil gas station from above (ca. 1970-73). Photo by steveartist.

City Hall (ca. 1970). Photo from Toronto History.

University Theatre in the background of a street scene. Photo from Toronto History.

Approaching Yonge and Bloor (ca. 1971). Photo from Toronto History.

Nathan Phillips Square in 1973. Photo by Robert Taylor.

The CN Tower under construction. Originally published in Time Magazine.

The infamous red subway trains, 1971. Photo by Robert Taylor.

A 1970s scene on a postcard of Toronto. Image from the Toronto Archives.

Another postcard, this one of Yonge Street. Image from the Toronto Archives.

A skyline view from the Islands, 1970s. Image from the Toronto Archives.

Woodbine beach looking west. Image from the Toronto Archives.

Crowds in front of Old City Hall. Note the old streetcar. Image from the Toronto Archives.

On the heels of the first major snowfall of the season, Toronto's one and only outdoor shipping container market is now bracing itself for the toughest time of the year.

The month of November is notoriously difficult for the stalls operating out of Market 707: the strip of upcycled shipping containers outside of Scadding Court.

With temperatures dropping quickly and the area all but barren of foot traffic as windblown pedestrians retreat to the warmth of the indoors, business owners on this strip of Dundas must hustle harder to pay off their monthly leases for the rest of the season.

That's especially hard in a climate like Canada's, where the dreary effects of winter weather can last up to half a year. 

Market 707 has over 14 stalls, some of which close during the winter while others continue to operate.

But while some services like SC Cycles and CleanLocs have seemingly succumbed to the cold, shuttering up for the month of November, other businesses are sticking it out to make that extra cash. 

Market 707 veteran Marc Perraut of Nom Nom Nom Poutine, which has been open since 2011, is one of the few stalls—alongside other seasoned containers like Gushi and Kanto by Tita Flips—that are open on a Friday afternoon. 

"The first winter is always the absolute worst period of time for every business," says Perraut of new arrivals in the Market . "After you pass your first winter, you're good to go." 

Nom Nom Nom poutine has survived seven winters at Market 707. 

Over the past seven and a half years of serving poutine out of a shipping container that's smaller than most walk in closets, Perraut has developed a system that keeps him afloat during the winter, namely through deliveries.

Catering to those settling into hibernation mode, Perraut says his delivery order increase by about 50 per cent in the winter.

"It replaces the walk-ups."

Nom Nom Nom Poutine utilizes nearly every delivery app, from Ritual to Uber Eats, along with payment systems like WeChat and the burgeoning Canadian cryptocurrency via Bunz. 

On top of that, Perraut can be found in his stall almost daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.—a valuable trait considering the stalls in Market 707 have a reputation for inconsistency, even in the summer.

Nantana's will close up her stall for the winter before re-opening in Spring.

By staying open all winter (save for the dead period between Christmas Day and New Year's) it eases the burden of having to up the ante during the summer months in order to afford a few months closure.

Meanwhile, Nantana Salanont, who's in her first year of running her Thai food stall Nantana just west of Perraut, is still adjusting.

She says the cold weather has been hard, especially since she hasn't signed on with any delivery apps yet, though she plans on joining one next spring. 

In the meantime, she'll be closing up shop to head back home to Thailand until March. When the snow starts to melt, she'll be back on her grind in preparation for another long, Canadian winter.

Old Saint Nicholas hits the road today as events in Toronto will see the Santa Claus Parade rolling through the city. Elsewhere, the Old Book and Paper Show is on and there's a feminist makers market. Film screenings, local music and an undie run are happening as well.

The Santa Claus Parade is coming to Toronto this weekend, and Santa needs you to get your car off the road and out of the way. 

That's right, the annual Santa Claus Parade is happening Sunday, November 18, and it's bringing some road and transit closures with it, so everyone can enjoy the event. 

The parade starts at Christie Pits at 12:30, and heads down Bloor Street to Queen's Park, where it loops around the Crescent and down University to Wellington Street, then south on Yonge Street and finally over to St. Lawrence Market via Front Street.

Various streets will be closing at different times to accommodate setup, take-down, the parade, and the Holly Jolly Fun Run. Here is a list of those closures: 

• Bloor St W from Ossington Ave to Christie St from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Bremner Blvd from York St to Lake Shore Blvd W from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Front St E from Jarvis St to Sherbourne St from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Lower Jarvis St from Front St E to The Esplanade from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Bloor St W from Christie St to Avenue Rd from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Queen's Park from Bloor St W to Queen's Park Cres E from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Queen's Park Cres E from Queen's Park to Queen's Park from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Queen's Park Cres W from Queen's Park to Queen's Park from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• University Ave from College St to Wellington St W from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• University Ave from Wellington St W to Front St W from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• York St from Front St W to Bremner Blvd from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Front St E from Yonge St to Jarvis St from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wellington St W from University Ave to Yonge St from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Yonge St from Wellington St W to Front St W from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Queens Quay E lane closure eastbound from Lower Jarvis St to Parliament St from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Additionally, some TTC routes will be diverting at varying times to avoid the closures:

• 5 Avenue Road 
• 6 Bay
• 65 Parliament
• 72 Pape
• 94 Wellesley
• 121 Fort York - Esplanade
• 126 Christie
• 161 Rogers Road
• 300 Bloor-Danforth Night Bus

A longstanding Toronto restaurant will cease serving their chicken and ribs shortly after the beginning of next month.

Located at 1633 The Queensway in Etobicoke, the lease on the The Q Queensway Rotisserie and Grill is ending, and they’ll have to stop serving their signature comfort food on December 2. 

The Q was formerly a St-Hubert, and Ontario fans of the Quebec chain flock there since they retain the rights to the same dishes, such as the chicken, ribs, fries, sauce and hamburger bun dinner rolls.

If you’re just discovering this now, at least you still have a couple more weeks to gorge on $9.95 quarter leg dinners and brunch until 2 p.m.

The place has been in business for almost 40 years. That means they competed with Toronto’s most famous chicken and ribs chain, Swiss Chalet, for the majority of their 65-plus year reign. 

So long, The Q, and thanks for all the chicken.

Free events in Toronto this week are all about wintery goodness as a new festival dedicated to Nordic culture arrives at the Harbourfront Centre. An entire season of festivities is on at Ontario Place and Cavalcade of Lights blasts off over Nathan Phillips Square

The best toy stores in Toronto are purveyors are the finest past-times for kids (and maybe even adults, too). Whether you're looking for on-trend or artisanal toys, these shops go beyond Indigo Kids and Toys R Us and offer their own curated selections of creative games for all ages. 

Here are the best toy stores in Toronto. 

It seems like everyone’s getting into the weed dispensing game these days, so it only makes sense that eventually one of Toronto’s longest-running pot lounges would throw its hat in the ring.

The Good Grass is opening next weekend at 575 Danforth, “a new and refreshing experience for the contemporary Canadian cannabis user.” 

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Sneak peek ... @thegoodgrass is 60% ready to roll 😍 #hotboxlife #hotbox #goodgrass #thegoodgrass #danforth #cannabis

A post shared by The Good Grass Co (@thegoodgrass) on Nov 11, 2018 at 12:57pm PST

As they’re still waiting to see if they can get a license to legally sell cannabis products, for now the shop will just sell the kind of paraphernalia already available at Roach-a-Rama/Hot Box Cafe in Kensington, mostly smoking accessories and body care items.

With plans for more locations are in the works, Hot Box fans have a reason to take an extra celebratory toke or two. 

Events in Toronto this week are all about picking out that perfect gift for yourself your loved ones at any of the markets happening around the city. Travi$ Scott is here and so is the final Friday Night at the ROM. There's film, art, food and lots of free stuff on as well.

While there are many, many amazing Christmas lights displays around Ontario, few can boast the majesty of this one. 

Owen Sound's Festival of Northern Lights is a breathtaking show of holiday spirit, featuring more than 25 kilometres of light displays. 

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A post shared by RJSBird Photography(Jay Smith) (@rjsbirdphotography) on Dec 17, 2017 at 11:11pm PST

The lights stretch across the town's downtown streets, harbour, rivers, parks and more. 

Created in 1987, the spectacle started as a small community event, but has since grown into a fantastical display of more than 400 holiday treasures, from fire-breathing dragons to Santa's sleigh. 

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A post shared by Rhonda Stribz (@rhonda.stribz) on Jan 7, 2018 at 4:08pm PST

The Festival of Northern Lights started on November 17 this year and sticks around until January 6.

Don't miss the closing ceremonies on January 5, when the town is sure to dazzle with its signature holiday magic.